HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state lawmaker was secretly charged nearly a year ago by federal prosecutors with helping to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from a mental health clinic in Philadelphia.
Court records show a money-laundering conspiracy charge against Democratic Rep. Leslie Acosta was unsealed in March after a plea document was filed. The plea document is under seal and its contents are not public.
The charge against Acosta was first reported Friday by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Acosta’s lawyer tells the newspaper he looks forward to discussing the case.
Acosta worked at the publicly funded Juniata Community Mental Health Clinic at the time of the alleged embezzlement. She’s not accused of benefiting personally.
Acosta is running for re-election but if convicted of a felony, she’d have to resign upon sentencing.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
